Community garden named "Hanneke's Place"
By Mona Mattei
The Grand Forks community garden has a new name: Hanneke’s Place. Unveiled on Sunday, Aug. 29, the new sign commemorates one of the garden’s most committed volunteers who was also instrumental as its designer – Hanneke Bluthanthal. Hanneke passed away before she was able to see the garden come to fruition but her spirit of community is evident in the project and will be an ongoing testimony to her vision. Hanneke’s husband, Ralph, was on hand to unveil the new sign naming the gardens on Sunday which would have been her 65th birthday. “I appreciate the efforts of the community – you’ve been so much help,” said Ralph. “I’m sure Hanneke is so proud, not just for the gardens being named for her, but because people are doing what we said we would do – sharing in the fruits of their labour.” The community garden is a project of the Grand Forks and Boundary Regional Agricultural Society and Hanneke sat on the committee responsible for the project. “We are very sad that we’ve lost her and we are honoured and proud to dedicate the garden to her memory,” said GFBRAS Vice-President Patti Bevilacqua. Bevilacqua said that the garden has leased 10 of the 20 raised bed plots available for the 2011 growing season that are within the garden’s grounds located in Ruckle addition near the black train bridge and the Kettle River. Irrigation has been installed, and plans for a greenhouse and possibly fruit trees are in the works. Annual rent for a plot is only $15. The committee is hosting a work party on Saturday, Sept. 11 at 8:00 a.m. to fill the beds and everyone is welcome to come help out. Check out their forum on the society’s website: www.gfbras.ca for more information.
